Altadena! I Am Your Neighbor. The Wildfires Have Been Devastating. Don't Let Fraud Be Another Wildfire.

We are your neighbors. Our office is in Pasadena, our roots run deep in this community, and like so many of you, we have watched the hills above Altadena burn with a grief that is hard to put into words. The Eaton Fire took homes, memories, irreplaceable pieces of people's lives. Families who built everything they had into a house on a quiet street are now standing on ash, trying to figure out what comes next. We see you. We are with you. And because we are attorneys who care deeply about this community, we feel an obligation to say clearly what needs to be said: as you begin to rebuild, please do not let fraud become a second disaster.

In the aftermath of every major California wildfire, a predictable and heartbreaking pattern emerges. Unlicensed contractors flood the affected area within days, sometimes hours, of the containment announcement. They arrive with business cards, confident pitches, and prices that seem almost too good given the scale of what needs to be done. Some will ask for large cash deposits and disappear. Others will start work, do it badly, and abandon the job when money runs out or a better target comes along. Still others will take your insurance settlement, perform a fraction of the promised work, and dare you to fight them for the rest. The California Contractors State License Board has documented this phenomenon after every major fire event in the state's history. Post-disaster contractor fraud is not a possibility — it is a certainty unless homeowners are on guard.

So here is what we ask of you before you sign anything. Verify the contractor's license at www.cslb.ca.gov — it takes two minutes and it is the single most important thing you can do. Confirm their bond and insurance are current. Ask for references from completed projects, not just names. Get at least three written bids, and be suspicious of any bid that dramatically undercuts the others.

Require a written contract that describes every phase of work, the materials to be used, the timeline, and a payment schedule tied to completion milestones — not calendar dates. Under California law, your initial deposit cannot exceed 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Any contractor who demands more upfront is already operating outside the law. And please — do not pay in cash. Ever. A check or traceable electronic payment is not a formality; it is your evidence.

To the licensed, bonded, skilled contractors who are showing up right now to help Altadena rebuild — we see you too, and we are grateful for you. The legitimate professionals who do this work with integrity, who pull permits, hire qualified tradespeople, and treat their clients' loss with the seriousness it deserves — you are part of the healing. You are not just building houses. You are building back a community.

We know that working in a post-disaster environment is extraordinarily difficult. Supply chains are strained, inspection schedules are backed up, and the emotional weight of working in a neighborhood full of grief is real. Document everything. Communicate constantly. Use written change orders. Build the paper trail that protects both you and your clients. And if a property owner or insurance company is treating you unfairly, know that your rights are just as real and just as worth protecting.

A house built on fraud is not a home. It is a liability — structurally, legally, and morally. Work performed without permits cannot be inspected, which means defects stay hidden until they cause harm. Materials that were billed as premium and installed as substandard will fail. Unlicensed work can void your homeowner's insurance, create problems when you try to sell, and in the worst cases, put your family at risk. Altadena deserves to be rebuilt with the same love that made it such a remarkable place to live — the eclectic homes, the mature trees, the sense of a neighborhood that actually knows itself. That kind of community is not rebuilt with shortcuts. It is rebuilt with skill, with honesty, and with care.

If you are an Altadena homeowner who has lost your home or suffered fire damage, or a contractor working in the rebuilding area who needs legal guidance, Cornell Law Group is here. We are local. We know this community. We handle construction contracts, contractor disputes, insurance claim issues, and real estate matters across Los Angeles County.

There is no charge for an initial consultation, and we will give you straight answers about where you stand. Rebuilding after a disaster is one of the hardest things a family can go through. You should not have to navigate it alone — and you should not have to do it twice because the first contractor you trusted let you down. Reach out to us. Let's make sure Altadena comes back stronger, and let's make sure it comes back right.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently, and the information presented here may not reflect the most current legal developments. Every legal matter is unique; you should consult a licensed California attorney for advice specific to your situation.